4-H News:

A Message for All of 4-H Regarding Hurricane Katrina

The devastation from Hurricane Katrina is affecting us all. Losses due to this natural disaster are innumerable at this point. Many 4-H families and friends are without homes and work. Louisiana alone has lost four 4-H offices to the floods.

National 4-H Council and Clover Corner News encourages all 4-H clubs across America to join together in helping their fellow 4-H members and citizens. Below is a listing of websites that provide information about how you can help the 4-H community. Please take some time to raise money as a club and send to your 4-H friends in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. It is in moments like these that the strength of the 4-H community is seen throughout our nation…

Alabama: County offices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, including 4-H offices, were battered by Hurricane Katrina. However, almost all of Extension’s county offices are open to help residents and farmers as the cleanup from Katrina begins.

Alabama residents looking for advice on storm recovery should contact their county Extension office or visit the Alabama Extension Disaster Education Network at www.aces.edu/eden/index.htm or the Alabama Cooperative Extension System site at www.aces.edu.

Louisiana: The Louisiana 4-H Foundation has established an AgCenter Relief Fund with all proceeds going to help LSU AgCenter employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. Several 4-H agents and employees have lost their homes, all of their possessions and are now homeless.

To donate, send your check, made out to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation, to PO Box 25100, Baton Rouge, LA 70894. In the memo field of the check, put “Relief Fund.” If you would like to donate via credit card, you may do so via their website at www.La4HFoundation.org or by calling the Foundation office with the necessary information.

All contributions are tax deductible and 100 percent of everything raised is going to help LSU AgCenter employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. No part of your donation is going to be used for administrative expenses, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact Trey Williams at 225-578-1172 or wwilliams@agcenter.lsu.edu. Also visit www.La4HFoundation.org.

Mississippi: 4-H and Extension in Mississippi have set up a website to respond to the disaster. The page contains information such as what to do in a flood, what food is safe to eat, and even how those outside of the area can help. Check it out for more information at msucares.com/disaster/index.html.

They also have begun two projects:

"Letters of Caring and Hope" - For those 4-H members from around the country that are searching for ways in which they can support our Mississippi youth, we are asking the 4-H members and volunteers to write letters that are encouraging.

The letters will need to be sent to: Mississippi 4-H - Letters of Caring, Box 9601, MS State, MS 39762. If they are sent UPS, sent to: Dr. Susan Holder, 204 Bost Extension Center, MS State, MS 39762. The letters will be distributed through our 4-H Agents and 4-H youth and adult volunteers to young people affected by the hurricane.

Mississippi Operation 4-H Relief: For the families and young people in shelters or in isolated areas without power and services, the days are getting long and the young people are getting restless, we have designed activity boxes. These rubber tubs have lesson plans and activities for kids and parents. They also include 4-H coloring books and other curricula.

The Mississippi 4-H Foundation has set up a separate account for hurricane relief. Funds will go to 4-H families and to purchase supplies for the activity boxes. Donations should be sent to Mississippi 4-H Foundation, Box 9601, MS State, MS 39762.

If you have any questions, contact Morris Houston at 601-829-3611 or mhouston@ext.msstate.edu.

The above sites will be continually updated as there are further developments. You can also continue to check out the news section on 4HUSA.org.
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4-H Project 'Operation Boiled Peanuts' Under Way
By Brad Haire, University of Georgia

(Wilcox County, GA) They've been called to duty and are being deployed to Iraq next month. Their mission is simple: Provide Georgia soldiers a familiar taste of home. It's "Operation Boiled Peanuts."

Georgia 4-H'ers across the state are mobilizing to raise money for a statewide project to package and send boiled peanuts to Iraq to the 4,300 soldiers of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade.

Homegrown hankering

The seed of the project was planted when Clark Rountree, 21, a specialist with the 48th, called his mother, Patricia Anderson, earlier this month. The Wilcox County, Ga., native told her to tell Rex Bulloch he had a hankering for his favorite homegrown snack and wanted a few to share with his comrades in Iraq.

"Anything Clark and those boys want, and I can get it, I'm going to get it done," said Bulloch, 57, a Wilcox County peanut farmer for 35 years. Rountree worked on Bulloch's farm before being sent to Iraq earlier this year. He knew that from now until November plenty of fresh, Georgia peanuts would be harvested.

Bulloch figured a few bags of peanuts wouldn't do. He wanted to get enough for the entire brigade. Family-owned Hardy Farms in Hawkinsville, Ga., specializes in ready-to-eat boiled peanuts in pouches and cut Bulloch a good deal. But the cost was still around $6,000.

"Folks told me I should ask around for some help," Bulloch said in a phone interview Monday.

Statewide help

On Aug. 10, he called on his county University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office.

"I said, 'Why don't you let 4-H help with that,'" said Suzanne Keene, a Wilcox County 4-H program assistant. "I thought this would be a great opportunity for Georgia 4-H and the (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to send a farm product unique to Georgia and let the troops know we support them."

She called the 4-H state office in Athens, and "Operation Boiled Peanuts" was launched. "It has ballooned and blossomed from there," she said.

The Georgia 4-H Foundation fronted the $6,000 to keep the soldiers from waiting any longer.

Now, 2 tons of Georgia boiled peanuts, about 4,800 bags from Hardy Farms with Georgia 4-H stickers proudly stamped on them, are staged and ready to be sent to the men and women of the 48th Brigade around Sept. 10, Bulloch said.

From collecting donations to organizing events, each county 4-H club is doing something different to raise money, said Laura Perry Johnson, the southwest district 4-H program development coordinator.

"We'd like to raise enough money to do it more than once," Keene said. "Maybe send them something once a month."

Special thanks

"Clark is like one of mine," Bulloch said. "I'll do anything for him to make it a little easier. He promised he'd be careful, keep his head down and come home. That's what I'm expecting from him and the rest of them."

Bulloch hasn't spoken with Rountree. But he's heard that the soldiers know the Georgia delicacy is on the way. They've seen some TV news stories about it.

But Bulloch already has been personally thanked. Jason Henderson, another Wilcox County native and a 48th Brigade soldier, was injured in Iraq and was back home last week.

"He thanked me and asked if he could give me a hug for the men of the 48th," Bulloch said.

Governor Sonny Perdue (center) helps Georgia 4-H kick off "Operation Boiled Peanuts" to supply the Georgia National Guard 48th Brigade a taste of home in Iraq. Celebrating the statewide project are (front, from left) State 4-H President Cody Thomas, Wilcox County peanut farmer Rex Bulloch, Gov. Perdue, Wilcox County 4-H Program Assistant Suzanne Keene, 4-H Operation Military Kids Ambassador Sandra Spradley and State 4-H Leader Bo Ryles.
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4-H Community ATV Safety Program Youth Grants Awarded

Twenty-two sites in twenty states are the recipients of the 2005 4-H Community ATV Safety Program Youth Grants. The grants of $7,500 each are funded by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and will be used by local 4-H clubs to educate youth and adults on the risks of ATV riding and how to safely avoid them.

The states receiving funds include Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.

The program is part of the nationwide 4-H Community ATV Safety Program, a partnership between local 4-H club leaders, the national 4-H youth development organization and the ATV industry. It was formed to build awareness for safe riding practices as the popularity of ATVs continues to rise in the United States.

The grants will provide the funding for 4-H clubs to impart ATV safety knowledge in their communities. The grantees will take what they learned at the training and share the information with ATV adults and youth in their communities.

"The 4-H programs are unique because they are youth-adult collaborations," said Susan Halbert, senior vice president of 4-H and extension relations at National 4-H Council. "Kids know how to talk to other kids so that they will listen, and youth working together with adults to make a difference in their communities is an important element of 4-H."
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Dynamic Healthy Lifestyles Program Reached Over 1600 Youth of All Ages

(Seneca County, NY) The “Healthy Lifestyles” Program in Seneca County, New York has involved over 1600 youth of all ages in a dynamic and varied program to teach improved nutrition and increased physical activity using enthusiasm, high tech as well as old-fashion equipment and a variety of teaching methods. This program was funded as one of 12 grants provided by Kraft Foods, Inc. in partnership with National 4-H Council.

Extension educator Betty Heitman’s original goal was to engage 400 elementary school students in a fun and exciting educational “Fitness Counts” program. To date, over 900 children have been involved in physical activity as well as nutrition lessons in the new MyPyramid, breakfast importance, smart snacks, and fighting bacteria.

A “Fitness Counts Challenge Course” has grabbed the attention of older 4-H youth ages 11 to 16 years old but as a leadership and service opportunity rather than as participants. The teens man stations at community events to test the fitness of younger youth who try the course. The course has been a part of the Seneca County Health and Safety Fair, and the Waterloo Memorial Day as well as 4-H Clubs and after-school programs, reaching 340 youth to date. “Parents and youth leaders have commented that they are impressed by the challenge course equipment and it gives them ideas on what they can try at home” says Ms. Heitman. Play Station 2 games have provided modern interactive games that encourage body movement but so do more old-time activities such as rope jumping, hula hoops and Frisbees. The hula hoops lent themselves to a contest where twirl revolutions were counted; 1800 is the benchmark set by an 11 year-old girl!

For real hands-on learning, there’s the “I’m a Fitness Counts Chef” program where independent 4-H youth test specific recipes to see if kids would like them and could prepare them. Focus is on food, games and culture from around the world. 472 youth have engaged in these four-session activities and more are planned for the fall.

The final leg of this ambitious project is to showcase what the children have learned at community events such as the Seneca County Fair, New York State Fair and Empire Farm Days. This leg of the project is still on-going but there is lots to highlight with such a diverse program.

For more information about the “Healthy Lifestyles” Project work in Seneca County, New York, contact educator Betty Heitman at bbh5@cornell.edu or call 315-539-9251.

A young girl gets fit while having fun during the Seneca County 4-H healthy lifestyles project.
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Back to School with goCyberCamp!

As kids head to school, help them get back in the "groove" with activities at the Campfire on goCyberCamp! Just go to www.gocybercamp.org.

The Campfire on goCyberCamp provides activities that enable kids to come together to share experiences and make friends. Just like at summer camp!

CDA Scavenger Hunt: The CDA Scavenger Hunt gets kids to search the CDA, or otherwise known as Camper Digital Assistant, to answer the daily question. It's a great way to get kids revved up for knowledge discovery!

Craft Kit: You can have kids explore different arts and crafts in the Craft Kit at the Campfire as they begin school. It allows a chance for kids to get better acquainted with other kids!

Campfire Songs: Campfire Songs are another way to have kids create a bond that will take them through the new school year! Just be sure the computer's speakers are turned on!

The National Cooperative Extension System and the National 4-H Youth Development Program developed goCyberCamp with a grant funded by AT&T Family Care Development Fund, a joint project of AT&T, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
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NFL Wristbands Benefit JCPenney Afterschool Fund

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? What better way to show your spirit than to sport your favorite NFL team's official wrist bands during the upcoming season? JCPenney is the exclusive retailer of the official NFL wrist bands that are sure to be the hit of the summer. Each set sells for $2.99 and includes two wrist bands in the team's home and away colors. All net profits from the sale of the wrist bands and NFL royalties go to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, which provides support to after-school programs such as 4-H Afterschool.

JCPenney also has a special opportunity for kids between the ages of 6-13. This summer the Take A Player To School Sweepstakes presented by the NFL and JCPenney Afterschool will give 33 lucky kids the chance to take an NFL player to school! The sweepstakes kicks off in JCPenney Stores across the nation on July 24 and will run through September 22. To enter the Take A Player To School Sweepstakes, visit any JCPenney Store or log onto www.NFLyouthfootball.com for a complete set of rules.
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Resources and Opportunities:

New Youth Web Site on Horticulture

“Plants & Textiles - A Legacy of Technology” is a project that focuses on past and present technologies that convert plant materials into fibrous products. Whether you are experienced or new to this program, this website is a good resource. It provides background and how-to information, examples of use, interesting links, fun photos, and an online evaluation.

Project activities include paper making, rope making, indigo dyeing, mat weaving, and knot netting.

Each activity has four primary components:
1. Tools - make a tool.
2. Technology - use the tool in a traditional activity.
3. Research - use the Internet to learn about comparable technologies and products in today's market and to further explore plant fibers and textiles.
4. Connections - involve others from your community, particularly museums and historical associations.

To check out the site, go to www.hort.cornell.edu/plantsandtextiles.
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